All fish / Urotrygonidae

Spotted Round Ray

Urobatis maculatus

Also known as spotted round stingray, cortez round stingray, spotted stingray, round ray

A small round stingray with a nearly circular, pale to sandy brown disc covered in dark spots and a short, thick tail ending in a small rounded fin. It is kept by advanced marine hobbyists and public aquariums because it stays fairly small for a ray and spends much of its time buried in sand.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

1000 litres

Keep as

Singly or in small groups in a very large system

Diet

Carnivore: shrimp, clams, squid, small fish pieces and other meaty marine foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California and Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico

Breeding

Like other round rays it gives birth to live young after a period of internal development. Captive breeding is rare outside public aquariums and needs a large, stable system with mature adults of both sexes.

Good to know

It carries a venomous tail spine that can cause a very painful wound, so handle with care. It needs a broad sand bottom and will eat crustaceans and small fish, so it is unsuitable for reef tanks with invertebrates.